News Release
| Release Number: | 00-153 |
| Dated: | 8/30/2000 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.—The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed its work to make reality of a citizens’ dream of having access to the riverfront in The Dalles, Ore.
On Sept. 4, 2000, the Corps will ceremoniously open its 1.4-mile portion of The Dalles Riverfront Trail. Following a brief ribbon cutting ceremony, the Corps will sponsor a free 2.4-mile fun run/walk/bike event—the round-trip distance from the Seufert Visitor Center to Patterson Park, both on The Dalles Dam project. The entire bike and hike trail will be 9 miles long when completed, connecting The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center at the west side of the city of The Dalles to The Dalles Dam on the city’s east side. Several other agencies are completing separate sections of the trail.
"This began with local citizens years ago," said Theresa Cruz, a park ranger working on the Corps’ section of the trail. "They had a dream to allow easier access to the riverfront. Now we do have easier access," she said. In addition to allowing workers an easier commute from the west side to the east side of the city, "visitors to the dam can see a lot of habitat and different views of the city," Cruz said.
Those interested in joining the Corps in officially opening this section of the trail are invited to meet at 10 a.m., on Sept. 4, just outside the gates to The Dalles Dam’s Seufert Park Visitor Center. Seufert Park is closed as the cleanup of a toxic spill near Fifteen Mile Creek continues.
To get to the center, take exit 87 from I-84 onto Route 197 north, or, if coming from Washington’s State Highway 14, take Route 197 south, and follow the signs.